Straight line labeling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A MECHANISM FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE LABELS TO SPACED ROTATING CONTAINERS MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A CONVEYOR. THE LABELS ARE ACCURATELY CUT FROM A PREPRINTED ROLL AND CARRIED BY VACUUM PADS TO THE MOVING CONTAINERS FOR TRAILING-EDGE-FIRST APPLICATION THERETO.

Jain; 2 71 KAipvuzR'wvsocKl ETAL 3,554,841

STRAIGHT LINE LABELING MECHANISM Filed June-2a; 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v zgvrons, KAZMIERW s cm MICHAEL J.FLYNN BY HAROLD PAITCHELL RONALD c. KELLER United States Patent 3,554,841 STRAIGHT LINE LABELING MECHANISM Kazmier Wysocki, Michael J. Flynn, Harold Paitchell, and Ronald C. Keller, Hackensack, N.J., assignors t0 Kazmier Wysocki, Hackensack, NJ.

Filed June 22, 1967, Ser. No. 648,102 Int. Cl. B25c 9/04 US. Cl. 156-455 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanism for applying adhesive labels to spaced rotating containers moving in a straight line on a conveyor. The labels are accurately cut from a preprinted roll and carried by vacuum pads to the moving containers for trailing-edge-first application thereto.

This invention relates generally to labeling mechanism for containers of various types and more particularly to an improved mechanism for receiving a plurality of abutting containers moving at relatively high speed, spacing and rotating them, cutting labels from a preprinted roll, and applying them trailing-edge-first to the containers while moving in a straight line.

Apparatus of this general type is known in the art but is characterized by a number of disadvantageous features. Among these are: the use of label holding means which rotate a container along a pressure bar while applying the label so that the rotative speed is not only too great for accurate placement of the label, but the accuracy is lessened by removal by the container of the label from its support so as to result in flagging or in a loose label end whose weight affects the angular position of the label; the use of an adhesive requiring heat activating means; the use of inadequately sized label holding means resulting in the contamination of the holding means by surplus adhesive; the use of pressure means such as bars against the label being afiixed, which tends to distort their normal position; and the use of pre-cut labels in stacks in magazines which is more expensive as to printing and preparation, requires frequent reloading and often stoppage of the machine, and affords a greater chance for errors (such as a wrong sheet getting into a stack).

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved straight line labeling mechanism for containers which will obviate the above and other disadvantageous features of known labeling mechanism.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved straight labeling mechanism which employs preprinted labels in roll form which are successively severed by a rotating knife and fed to spaced label moving means which move them into contact with rotating containers moving in a predetermined path which containers have been spaced by means operating in timed relation with the knife and the spaced label moving means.

Another important object of the invention is to provide spaced la'bel moving means which are perforate, except for their trailing edges and connected with a source of vacuum for the retention of the labels thereon except for the trailing edges of the labels so as to enable the ready peeling olf of the labels trailing edge first onto containers with which the labels are moved into contact.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described wherein the spaced, perforate label moving means are smaller in size than said labels to prevent the closing of the perforations by the adhesive contained on the labels.

Patented Jan. 12, 1971 ice Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings there is shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the mechanism comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan diagrammatic view illustrating the elements and the operation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing the label cutting, applying and moving means;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan View of the spaced, perforate label supporting pads mounted on the endless supporting band and its aligned perforations which communicate with a chamber connected to a source of vacuum;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof to an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of one of the perforate, label supporting pads taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse, diagrammatic view of an endless-conveyor-supported container being rotated against the label moving band by an endless band formed of two vertically spaced, faster moving belts; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the container spacing means, the label cutting knife, and the drive for the label moving belt showing the timed relationship therebetween.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, numeral 15 designates the container labeling mechanism as a whole which comprises container conveyor means 17, container spacing means 18, container driving or rotating means 19, label moving means 20, and means including a supply roll 21 for feeding successive individual labels to the label moving means 20 as will be described. Electric power from a suitable source is provided with a meter board 24 and a control board 25 being mounted adjacent and on the mechanism 15 respectively.

The container conveyor means 17 is a table top type suitably mounted as by brackets 26 on an enclosed supporting base 27 which houses the vacuum pump, the adhesive pump, the power drives, etc. The endless chain conveyor 28 is mounted on driving and idler sprockets fixed to suitably journalled shafts 28' and supports the containers C and conveys them from left to right as shown at a speed by a motor CM which will keep the container spacing means 18 supplied. The spacing means 18 comprises a helix 30 which is rotatably mounted in a gear housing 29 and releases one container C per revolution to the container driving or rotating means 19. The conveyer chain 28 receives containers C moving in a straight line through the entire label placing process which feature permits a high speed operation as there is no abrupt change of direction of the container flow. Inasmuch as the mechanism has successfully applied labels at the rate of 300/min., rates in excess of 600/ min. are entirely practical therewith.

The container driving and rotating means 19 comprises a pair of endless, vertically spaced propelling belts 34, 35 for applying pressure to the containers C and urging them against the label moving means 20. The speed of the pressure or propelling belts 34, 35 is independently adjustable with respect to that of the label moving means 20 and is adjusted to travel at high velocities. This difference in velocity imparts a rotary motion to the containers causing each to roll against the label moving means (as will be further explained) to pick up a label at its trailing edge and completely transfer it to the container by the time it reaches the output or right end as shown of the conveyor means 17.

The propelling belts 34, 35 are mounted by vertically spaced separate frames 47, 48 on drive and idler V- pulleys 36 and 37 respectively, rotatably mounted on suitably journalled shafts 37', 38, with smaller V-pulleys 38 positioned therebetween and mounted on arms 39 pivoted to the frames and having their opposite ends spring loaded as at 40 to maintain pressure on the containers. The position of the propelling belts 34 and 35 (and their supporting frames 47, 48) is independently adjustable vertically (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7), so that they may contact the containers C at their best driving surfaces, by hand wheels 41 and 42 which adjust the vertical positions of their supporting frames. Similarly, a hand wheel 44 controls the lateral position of the supporting frames 47, 48, so as to accommodate for differcm diameter containers on the conveyor 28, with a similar control wheel 45 being provided for the raising and lowering of the adhesive applicator 105 to be described.

The label moving means 20 comprises an endless band or belt supported by driving and idler sprockets 52, 54 fixed to suitably journalled shafts 56. The band 50 is driven in timed relation to the infeed helix 30 and to a label cutting knife to be described, and its base is a notched timing belt 58. The surface of belt or band 50 is provided at regularly spaced points with rubber pads and both the belt 50 and the pads have aligned perforations 62 as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. The drive sprocket 52 moves the endless belt 50 over a platen 64 extending from the idler to the driving sprocket and having a longitudinal groove in which the notches of the timing belt 58 move, and narrow longitudinal grooves 61 in line with the belt holes to provide a continuous vacuum connection with the vacuum chamber. Behind and coextensive with the platen 64 and spaced therefrom is a wall 66 which with enclosing top and bottom walls 67, 68 defines a vacuum chamber 70 connected with a vacuum pump in the base by a conduit 72.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that no matter what size label L is to be applied to a container C, the label is larger than the perforated label carrying pad 60. The resulting overhang prevents any of the adhesive which has just previously been applied to the label, from getting on the endless or vacuum belt 50 and the perforated vacuum label holding pads 60 and stopping up any of the perforations 62.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the perforations 62 in the pads 60 and vacuum or endless belt 50. It will be noted (FIG. 4) that the three illustrated rows of perforations 62 in the forward half of the label holding pads 60 are not duplicated in the trailing half in which the rearwardmost two rows have been omitted. This partial elimination of holes ensures that each label L is securely retained by a vacuum pad 60 without the dropping of the trailing edge due to its weight so that accurate alignment of the label on the container is assured. Moreover, when the containers approach the labels which have just previously been coated with adhesive, the trailing edge of the label is free of vacuum retention so as to readily adhere to the surface of the container while the rest of the label L is firmly held in place by the vacuum.

Means for feeding individual labels to the perforated pads The label supply roll 21 is preprinted with each label having a registration mark as is conventional, and is mounted on a suitably journalled, rotatable shaft 76. The label sheet stored thereon extends in vertical position around various suitably journalled guide rollers 78, 79, past a photo-cell detection system indicated diagrammatically as 80, and between label feed rollers 82 to a rotary label cutter 84 fixed to a suitably journalled shaft 85, which is positioned adjacent the platen 64 and the path of the perforate, vacuum holding label pads 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and adjacent to which an air blast nozzle 86 is positioned.

As stated, and as shown diagrammutically in FIG. 8,

4 the flow of containers C into the mechanism between the driving or rotating means 19 and the label moving means 20 is controlled by the helix 30 which releases containers in timed relation to the belt 50 supporting the vacuum pads 60 and to the label cutter 84. This is effected by a DC. variable speed motor M which is drivably connected to a speed reducer 88 by a belt 90 to drive the vacuum belt drive sprocket 52 through change speed gears 92, the timed relationship drive to the label cutter 84 being by shafts 94, 96 and 85 and to the helix 30 by shafts 98 and 99. This arrangement establishes a fixed relationship between the label cutter 84, the helix 30, and the label moving belt 50 in the following ratios: one revolution of label cutter 84; 1 revolution of the helix 30; and a portion of a revolution required to move the belt 50 through ,4, of its length.

The photo-cell detection system controls the rate of feed of the label sheet to the label cutter 84 through the registration marks so as to ensure accurate cutting of the labels, by the action of a differential which advances or retards the sheet by a signal from the photocell and an associated amplifier.

The label cutter 84 is cylindrical and driven by the shaft as shown. The periphery is provided with a cutting blade 101 which cooperates with a suitably fixed cutter bar to sever the labels precisely at their ends. As seen in FIG. 3, each severed label passes over the air blast 86 which deposits them on the spaced successive vacuum label holding pads 60 which move them first to an adhesive applier 105 and then into contact with the containers C on the conveyor means 17.

The adhesive applier 105 comprises a housing (which is vertically adjustable by means of hand wheel 45 as stated) having a pair of vertically disposed rollers 106, 108 mounted therein and arranged to apply a metered amount of stored adhesive to the back of each label L on the vacuum holding pads 60 as they pass the applier just before contacting the containers at their trailing edges. The applier housing 105 is pivotally mounted to the base 27 as at 110 so that it may swing away from any pad 60 which for one reason or another bears no label so as to avoid stopping up of the vacuum perforations. When a pad 60 moves past the no-label detector 112 without a label held thereon by vacuum, air is cut off from a cylinder which holds the housing and rollers in normal glue applying position, and the applier 105 is pivoted away from the pads 60 against a stop by spring means.

In the event that a label is not removed from its vacuum supporting pad 60 upon its contact with a container, it is removed from the pad 60 after it has rounded the drive sprocket 52 by an air jet 116 and falls into any suitable waste container 118 provided therefor.

Different sizes of labels require different sizes of pads 60 which are fixed to the belts 50 and thus require a changing of the belt. The label size can, of course, affect the number of label supporting pads mounted on the belt and hence the timing. To accommodate for this, the belt speed relative to the container flow on the conveyor means 17 as spaced by the helix 30 is selected and adjusted by interchanging gears in the drive of the vacuum belt (and pads) 50.

Obviously, the linear velocity relationship between the container driving belts 34, 35 and the label supporting and moving belt 50 is most important, the former being driven by a variable speed system as stated. Naturally, it both belts have the same linear velocity, each container C will be carried along at this velocity without being rotated. However, if the container driving belts go faster than the label moving band or belt 50, the container will roll with respect to the latter. The amount of rotation can be varied and is correlated to the label length. If the label is four inches long, the container driving belts 34, 35 are set to cause the container to rotate a four inch portion of its circumference from the beginning of its pickup of the labels trailing edge until it leaves the labeling section.

It is apparent-and forms an important distinction over prior art structuresthat although the forward linear velocity of the container can be very high, the pick-up of the label is carried out very slowly. In prior art label pick-ups, the container is rolled across a stationary label allowing little time for the transfer. With the mechanism of the present invention, the label moves parallel with but at a slower linear velocity than the container allowing much more time for the transfer thus ensuring higher efficiency and much more accurate positioning of the label on the container.

By way of specific example, the belt 50 of the mechanism shown is 170 inches long with 34 raised label pads 60 on it which are narrower and shorter than the label to allow a A overhang all around which prevents adhesive from getting on the belt from the applier roller 106. This belt will accept labels up to 4 the belt length is maintained at 170 but gears and belt are changed to have a pitch of 7" with 24 pads.

The operation of the mechanism, of course, has been thoroughly set forth and it is believed to be apparent that the mechanism performs the action of applying the label and of advancing the container in the direction of travel simultaneously without any substantial change in the velocity of the container to thus ensure a smooth, gentle and relatively slow movement thereof at speeds as high as 300 containers per minute.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A labeling apparatus for containers comprising, in combination, a single endless conveyor for continuously supporting the containers in upright position and continuously moving them along a straight path; rotary means for engaging and spacing the vertically disposed containers on said conveyorfvertically disposed belt means including spaced, apertured, label-supporting pads connected with a source of vacuum for moving vertically disposed, adhesive coated labels to and attaching only their vertical trailing edges to the spaced, upright, moving containers; and means for rotating the moving, upright containers supported on said single endless conveyor against said vertical, label-moving belt means to effect the adherence of the entire label to the periphery of each container; said labels being larger than said vertically disposed, label-supporting pads to prevent the clogging of the apertures of said pads by the adhesive.

2. The combination recited in claim 1; and means for removing any labels from the pads which move past the containers without attachment thereto.

3. The combination recited in claim 1; and means for feeding labels to said pads.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said label feeding means, said container moving means, and

said label-supporting pads operate in timed relation to elfect proper positioning of the labels on said containers.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the spacing of said containers equals the spacing of said labelsupporting pads.

6. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said container rotating means comprises endless bands engaging the containers and moving parallel with and at a greater speed than said label moving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 539,280 5/1895 Magee 156455 1,881,125 10/1932 Parr 156-455 1,981,278 11/1934 Mudd l56357 2,300,078 10/1942 Von Hofe 156357 2,525,741 10/1950 Von Hofe et a1 156455 3,235,433 2/1966 Cvacho et a1. 156-455 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner R. E. HART, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 156-357 

